Eddie Malick is quite possibly one year away from becoming the
first Central Coast Section champion in the history of Gilroy High
swimming.
The only thing standing in his way is the matter of how bad he
wants it.
SANTA CLARA – Eddie Malick is quite possibly one year away from becoming the first Central Coast Section champion in the history of Gilroy High swimming.
The only thing standing in his way is the matter of how bad he wants it.
“If he really wants to be hungry, because it’s his senior year, it isn’t out of his reach,” Gilroy swim coach Tom Clark said.
Only a junior, Malick made waves at Saturday’s CCS Finals in Santa Clara by taking fourth in the 100 breaststroke finals, breaking the one-minute mark with a time of 59.19 seconds. He actually had an even better time in the preliminaries with a mark of 59.03.
Considering Harker freshman Kevin Khojasteh, who took second, is the only individual who finished in front of Malick and is likely to return to next year’s CCS finals, the soon-to-be GHS senior think his chances are good.
“I think I can definitely take first place next year if I put the time into it,” Malick said. “I’m gonna have to start training harder, lifting weights. I’m gonna have to start running, too. I hate running, but I’m gonna have to do it.”
In addition to his own individual performance, Malick combined with freshmen Kyle Collett and Michael Shields and senior David Pribyl to set a new school record in the 400 freestyle relay at 3:22.61. The mark is nearly seven seconds faster than the time that qualified the foursome for CCS, showing a “huge” improvement, Clark said.
“”I was really impressed with the boys,” the coach added. “Especially the freshmen.”
Other strong finishing notes to the season included the boys’ 200 medley relay of Jacob Abruzzini, Zack Kendrick, Pribyl and Malick just missing the consolations after recording a 1:41.85 in the preliminaries.
“We were within three or four tenths (of a second) to make it into consoles,” Clark said. “That’s how close it was.”
Abruzzini, Collett, Kendrick and Shields took 36th in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:34.80.
Pribyl and Kendrick finished 24th and 42nd, respectively, in the 100 butterfly. Pribyl also finished 20th in the 100 breast while the boys’ 200 freestyle relay took 36th. Malick placed 18th in the 200 IM prelims.
On the ladies’ side, Gilroy freshman Michelle Shields took 49th in the 100 free (56.88 seconds), while senior Maegan Collett finished in 34th and 38th in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, respectively.
“If [Shields] gets serious,” Clark said with a chuckle, “she actually can do pretty well. I’d really like to see her break the high school record in the next few years.”
The coach added that Maegan Collett performed admirably considering she had been battling allergies all season and out of the pool for periods of time due to college preparations.
After finishing second at the Tri-County Athletic League finals this season, Clark and Malick both have their sights set on a league title for the boys in 2010.
“Everybody has to come to practice, though,” Malick said. “This year we had kids that were skipping and we can’t have that next year if we want to win. I’m not going to say it’s going to be easy, it’s going to be really hard, but I think we can do it if we put the time in.”
